- Yes
- No
- Foldered with the F-4J
- After the F-4J (Rank VII)
- Before the F-14 (Rank VIII)
- Premium/Squadron/Gift
- I don’t want it added
- No, leave it as F-4S and add this one as F-4S (1984)
- Yes, change it to F-4S/E or F-4S (Early), and add this one as F-4S
- Yes, change it to F-4S (VF-301) and add this one as F-4S
- Yes, change it to represent an F-4J of VF-301 (or another Squadron) and add this one as F-4S
- Something else
- I don’t want it added
This is a suggestion for a late-service version of the F-4S, in the latter days of it’s career and approaching the time when it would be retired. Compared to the F-4J and the current premium F-4S, this boasts AIM-9Ls and AIM-7Ms, allowing it to be a threat against the more advanced jets it would fight.
/L here stands for Late, as is found in Typhoon Mk Ib/L.
Represented in a mid-80s configuration.
Background
The F-4S was the result of a life-extension program for the F-4J, intended to keep the aircraft in service with the USN and the USMC until the new F-14 and F/A-18 were available in numbers to replace them. While no F-4S took part in Vietnam, they would nevertheless continue to be an integral part of the Navy and Marine Corps Air Component until they were finally retired; 1986 from USN Carrier Operations, 1987 by the USN Reserve, and in 1992 by the Marine Corps, ending the Phantom’s career as a carrier aircraft.
In Navy service, the F-4S was used by 12 squadrons:
VF-74 “Be-Devilers,” and VF-171 “Aces” of the Atlantic Fleet,
VF-21 “Freelancers,” VF-121 “Pacemaker,” VF-151 “Vigilantes,” VF-154 “Black Knights,” and VF-161 “Chargers” of the Pacific Fleet,
VF-201 “Hunters,” VF-202 “Superheats,” VF-301 “Devil’s Disciples/Blazing Inferno,” and VF-302 “Stallions” of the Reserve,
and VX-4 “Evaluators” of Air Development.
In Marine Corps service, the F-4S was used by 12 squadrons:
VMFA-112 “Cowboys,” VMFA-115 “Silver Eagles,” VMFA-134 “Smoke,” VMFA-212 “Lancers,” VMFA-232 “Red Devils,” VMFA-235 “Death Angels,” VMFA-251 “Thunderbolts,” VMFA-312 “Checkerboards,” VMFA-321 “Hell’s Angels,” VMFA-333 “Fighting Shamrocks,” VMFA-451 “Warlords,” and VFMAT-101 “Sharpshooters.”
The last active duty Navy Phantoms were from VF-151 and VF-161, being retired in 1986. The F-4S was retired from Naval Reserve shortly thereafter, when VF-202 retired their last Phantom in 1987. The Marines held onto theirs for a bit longer, with VMFA-112 finally retiring the Phantom in 1992, closing out the Phantom’s career as a carrier aircraft.
Specifications
Unlike other versions of the F-4, the F-4S has no “Block” number, because it was an upgrade program instead of a production change.
| General Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Length | 58ft 3in (17.76m) | |
| Wingspan | 38ft 5in (11.7m) | 27ft 7in (8.4m) wing folded |
| Height | 16ft 6in (5m) | |
| Engines | 2 x J79-GE-10B smokeless engines | ~11,810lbf non-afterburning (~5357kgf) |
| ~17,820 lbf afterburning (~8083kgf) | ||
| Empty Weight | 31,745lb (14399kg) | |
| Fuel Capacity | 1368 US gal (5178 L) internal fuselage | + 630 US gal (2385 L) internal wing |
| 600 US gal (2271 L) external centerline | + 2 x 370 US gal (1400 L) external wing | |
| Total Fuel Load | 1998 US gal (7563 L) internal | 1340 US gal (5071 L) external (3 tanks) |
| Hardpoints - 9 total | 5 external hardpoints | 4 semi-recessed Sparrow hardpoints |
Ordnance
| Ordnance | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Air-to-Air | |||
| IR | |||
| AIM-9G | |||
| AIM-9H | |||
| AIM-9P-4 | All-Aspect AIM-9P; not used by Navy, present for progression (optional) | ||
| AIM-9L | All-Aspect | ||
| Radar | |||
| AIM-7E | |||
| AIM-7E-2/E-3 | AIM-7E-3 is AIM-7E-2 with fusing changes | ||
| AIM-7F | |||
| AIM-7M | |||
| Air-to-Ground | |||
| Bombs | |||
| Mk 81 250lb | (LDGP/Snakeye) | ||
| Mk 82 500lb | (LDGP/Snakeye/LGB) | ||
| Mk 83 1000lb | (LDGP/Retard/LGB) | ||
| M117 750lb | (GP/Retard) | ||
| Mk 77 Mod 4 500lb | Napalm | ||
| Mk 78 750lb | Napalm | ||
| Mk 79 1000lb | Napalm | ||
| CBU-59/B | Cluster | ||
| CBU-99/100 | Rockeye II (Cluster) | ||
| Rockets | |||
| Mighty Mouse | FFAR | ||
| Hydra 70 | FFAR | ||
| Zuni | FFAR | ||
| Other | |||
| AN/ALQ-120 | ECM | ||
| Mk 4 Mod 0 | Gun Pod (Mk 11 Mod 5) | ||
| AN/ALE-37 | Countermeasure Dispenser |
| Avionics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Radar | AN/APG-59( ) | with AN/AWG-10B FCR |
| RWR | AN/ALR-45(V) | |
| IFF | AN/ASX-76A | |
| HUD | LCOSS | Similar HUD to other Phantoms |
| HMS | AN/AVG-8 | VTAS |
| CM | AN/ALE-29A | Integrated Countermeasure Dispenser |
Conclusion
In game this aircraft would be an upgrade of the F-4J, serving as the US’ answer to the late MiG-23s and the F-4EJ Kai. It would likely play the same (or very similar) to the EJ Kai, with the main difference being lacking an internal gun and having a harder to use radar. The HUD, while it’s existence is up in the air, would be a substantial improvement over the F-4E and F-4J for sim players, and the improved weaponry would be a welcome addition to air battles. Sadly, I don’t think it could mount a laser designator such as Pave Knife, so the laser guided bombs would have to wait until buddy lasing is a thing, or just have the LGBs unimplemented.
For a stock loadout, 4x AIM-9G and 4x AIM-7E are ideal, assuming SARHs come stock. The AIM-9H and AIM-7E-2 should be Rank 1 modifications, the AIM-9P-4 (if present) and AIM-7F at Rank 3, and AIM-9L and AIM-7M at Rank 4. If AIM-7s are not included stock, then the AIM-7E can just be ignored entirely, and the plane can start with AIM-7E-2/E-3.
Additionally, given that the F-4S technically already exists in the form of a premium, either this Phantom would need to have a unique name, such as F-4S/L or F-4S (1984), or the premium would need to be renamed. The premium could also be downgraded to be an F-4J of VF-301 (or another Squadron), since its at the same BR as the F-4J. Said downgrade would only involve minor changes and the removal of the AIM-9H, as otherwise the aircraft are the same.
Personally, I would want the current F-4S to be changed to an F-4J due to the similarities in armament and the fact they are the same battle rating, but only if it does not get AIM-9Ls or AIM-7Fs; otherwise it should just be renamed. I also think the F-4S, as in the one suggested here, would fit well as a dual-addition with the F-4E/L, which I made a post for here
Sources
Joe Baugher’s Website, F-4S Page
NATOPS F-4J Manual
Standard Aircraft Configuration F-4S (1984)
Instruments of the F-4J/S
Gallery
Thank you for reading. Please let me know if I missed anything.
Edit: general touch ups and a link to the new F-4E/L post. I would change the polls to be nicer but I can’t without closing them (and I don’t want to do that)
